Card receiving station



June 26, 1956 Filed May 2, 1955 Vicar/M PUMP Viau/M P/cz -U A. M. NELSONCARD RECEIVING STATION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 NNUU 7F sa JNVENToR. fef M/Vaso/v BY m www #Une/vnf.

June 26, 1956 A. M. NELSON 2,752,154

CARD RECEIVING STATION Filed May 2, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 rrae/vfxUnited States Patent() CARD RECEIVING STATION Alfred M. Nelson, RedondoBeach, Calif., assignor to Hughes Aircraft Company, Culver City, Calif.,a corporation of Delaware Application May 2, 1955, Serial No. 505,307

6 Claims. (Cl. 271-74) This invention relates to an output device for avacuum drum card conveyor, and more particularly to a receiving stationwhich has no moving parts and which is useful for receiving cards at arapid rate from a fast moving conveyor.

It is well known in the prior art to employ vacuum-type conveyors forprocessing documents, photographs or cards in a continuous process. Thevacuum conveyor principle is described, for example, in U. S. Patent1,968,941, issued on August 7, 1934, to B. J. Hall et al., illustratinga series of evacuated drums used for transporting a set of papers fromone position to another while various operations are performed thereon.The present invention relates specically to a receiving station forreceiving from a highspeed conveyor of the vacuum type a continuousstream of punched cards of the kind which are commonly used inelectronic business data processing equipment.

In the prior art it is well known to employ, in combination with cardhandling equipment, a card receiving station which requires movingmechanical parts for handling each card individually. Such devicesprovide very satisfactory operation, but their maximum operating rate islimited to a few hundred cards per minute primarily due to the fact thateach card must be received or handled by a moving member.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a device forreceiving cards at a rapid rate from a fast moving conveyor of thevacuum type.

Another object of the invention is to provide a receiving station,having no moving parts, for receiving cards from a conveyor of thevacuum type.

The invention is illustrated in conjunction with a system wherein anumber of punched cards of the type used with business data handlingequipment is to be transported from'one location to another in acontinuous process. According to this system a stack of cards to beprocessed is arranged horizontally in an input magazine from whence thecards are picked up by a first rotating vacuum drum, passed on to asecond rotating vacuum drum, and then received into a horizontallyarranged output magazine. The surface of each rotating drum isperforated with holes or slots in order that the vacuum therein mayproduce a lower air pressure on the side of the card which is adjacentto the surface of the drum.

According to the present invention the receiving station includes a setof stationary projections or ngers which protrude from the surface ofthe drum at the point where the cards are to be delivered to the outputmagazine. As each card reaches the set of fingers it is separated fromthe surface of the drum, the suction action of the vacuum is lost, andthe card is propelled into the output magazine by means of itsl ownkinetic energy coupled with the rotational thrust from the drum.

A very high operating rate may be obtained with the card receivingstation of the present invention because of the fact that no movingparts are required other than the conveyor drum. Another importantadvantage of the invention is that although the cards travel at a veryhigh rate of speed they are stopped in such a way that they are notdamaged. lThe stopping action is accomplished in several successivesteps, with a substantial portion of the kinetic energy of the cardbeing absorbed during each step.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of theinvention, both as to its organization and method of operation, togetherwith further objects and advantages thereof, will be better understoodfrom the following description considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which two embodiments of the invention areillustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood,however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration anddescription only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits ofthe invention.

Fig. 1 illustrates in a schematic top plan view a card transfer systemwherein the card receiving station of the present invention may beutilized;

ceiving station of Fig. 2 taken on line 3 3 thereof;

Fig. 4 is a detailed plan View of another form of' card receivingstation in accordance with the present in vention; and

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional View of the card! receiving stationof Fig. 4 taken on line 5-5 thereof.

Reference is now made to the drawings wherein like: parts are identifiedthroughout by like reference numerals.. In Fig. l an input magazine 10contains a stack of cardsf 11 which is kept in place by means of apressure device indicated by an arrow 12. A rotating vacuum pick-up drum13 is arranged to pick up the cards from the input magazine, to sendthem through a chute 14 to a reversing drum 15. The direction ofrotation of drums 13 and 15 is shown by the arrows. A vacuum pump 16 isutilized for maintaining a partial vacuum in each of the drums, and eachdrum surface has perforations or slots for holding the cards on the drumsurface. An output magazine 17 is shown containing a stack of cards 18which has already been transferred, the stack being maintained inposition by another pressure device indicated by an arrow 19.

In the system of Fig. 1 a card feed station is indicated generally bymeans of an arrow 20, and a card receiving station adjacent to theoutput magazine is indicated generally by an arrow 21. For the purposeof the present invention it is necessary to describe in greater detailonly the card receiving station, hence reference is now made to Figs. 2and 3 for that purpose.

In Figs. 2 and 3 the drum 15 is shown as resting upon a `supportingtable 38 and having an upper 'Bange 15a projecting slightly beyond thedrum surface. The structure of the drum includes three working grooves39, 49, and 41, each of which is an annular groove encircling the entiredrum surface and recessed 'beneath the surface by 'a -iixed amount.v Thedrum structure also includes two relatively narrow vacuum slots 25 and26. Although the relative locations of the grooves and slots is`somewhat arbitrary, the drawings show the slots 25 and 26 located nearIthe top and bottom edges of the drum, respectively, 'and all of thegrooves located between the two slots.

The drum is fastened together by means of 'a number of bolts 50,together with a number of spacers or washers. A spacer is inserted ateach point where a bolt passes through one of the vacuum slots 25 or 26.Thus the drum f throughout the drum.v Similarly the bottom portionv isconnected by `bolts 50 tothe middle portion'with spacers providing theslot 26 which also extends throughout the drum.

The vacuum slots are provided for the purpose of clamping to the drumsurface the cards which are transported thereon. Sidewise` slippage ofthe. cards while in motion ispreventedv by supporting'` table 38: andvflange 15a. Grooves39, 40, and 41r are necessary to the operation of thecard receiving station.

The receiving station includes three fingers 33a, 33h, and '33C whichride respectively within grooves 39, 40, and 41. As indica-ted in Fig; 2by means of dotted lines, the major part of each fingerv ridesbeneaththe drum surface. `At one end, each of the-fingers has a rounded tipwhich protrudes abovethe, surface of the drum, forming a projection 32.The direction of rotation of the drum is such that a card;22being-.transported thereon as shown in Fig. 2 will be-defiected. firstby the projections 32.

The other ends ofthe fingers'rise above the drum surface and may be madeas an integral piece with a connecting member 31 which is inturnfastened to a stopping wall 30; Thus, card 22y is first deflected fromthe drum surface by the first projections 32; upon again returning tothe'drum surface it is deflected therefrom for the second time by asecond projection comprising the other ends of the fingers 33a, 33h,'and 33C; and it finally cornes to rest with its leading edge abuttingagainst the stopping wall 30.

In operation ay cardlSb and all other cards which were previouslyreceived in the output magazine 17 are no longer in contact with the.drumv surface, being shielded therefrom by the last-received card 18a.These previously received cards, therefore, rest within the outputmagazine in their normal flat shape, being held in place by the pressuredevice 19. The last-received card 18a, however, has a portion of itslength clamped to the' drum surface by means of the partial vacuum inslots 25 and 26. Thus the leadingY edge of card 18a a'buts against thestoppingwall 30; its trailing edge isseparated from the drum 'andoverhangs projections 32; and its middle portion remains in slidingcontact with `the exposed portion of the drum and therefore assumes acorrespondingly curved shape as'shown.

As the next card. 22 approaches the receiving station, upon reachingprojection 32 its leading edge is separated from the'drum surface andstrikes the exposed underside of the trailing edge of card 18a. Theleading edge of card 22 then slides underneath card 18a and again comesinto contact with the' drumv surface beyond projections 32. Thisreestablished contact with the drum surface provides a new driving forcewhich ensures that card 22 is propelled into the position previouslyoccupied by card 18a. Finally card 22 strikes fingers 33a, 3311, and 33Cland is againseparated from the drum and comes to rest against wall 30.

Thus according to the general concept of the invention there areprovided a first projection fixedly positionedV adjacent `the surface ofthe rotating drum, 'and adapted to defiect away from the drum surface acard which is being transported thereon; and a second similar projectionspaced from the first in the direction of rotation of the drum `bysubstantially less than a card length. In the` example shown the secondprojection is comprised of the other ends of fingers y33a,.'33b,and,33c, which are integral With the `connecting member 31. Accordingto` the general concept of the invention there is also provided astopping wall, spaced beyond Ithe second projection inthe direction ofrotation of thel drum, and less thanV a card length from the firstprojection.

There are several operational requirements which the invention mustfulfill. Regardless 4of the speed 'of rotation of the drum it isnecessary to provide a proper balance between the driving frictionprovided by the drum surface and the stopping friction provided by thecardreceiving station. Thus, after. the leadingedge of. card 22 strikesprojectionsf32 it establishes slidingv contact with` projections 32 andwith the under-surface of card 18a; the frictional drivingthrustimparted -to the remaining portion of card 22 by the drum surface mustbe sufiicient to overcome `the friction involved in these slidingcontacts. After the'leading edge of card 22 re-establishes contact withthe drum surface the driving force must be sufiicient to ensure thatcard 22 movesinto its final position, overcoming the frictionalresistance of projections 32, of the underside of card 18a, and of thesecond projection including member 31.

When the druml is rotating at high speed the additional factor of thekinetic energy of the moving cards must be considered. It is necessarythat each moving card as it comes intothe output magazine must bestopped, and its kinetic energy absorbed, without crushingor damagingthe card. This stopping 'action is accomplished in four successivesteps, involving the absorption of the kinetic energy of the moving cardby projections 32, by the previously received card, by the second`projection, and by` stopping Wallr 30;

A setV of speciiications'which has' provided satisfactory operation atthe rate of' 2,000- cards per minute is as follows. A drum diameter ofl0 inches is used, and the drum is rotated atl 7G@ R. Pl M. The partialvacuum is selected toV produce' a pressure differential corresponding tol0- inches. of Water. The cards are made of flexible paper, being 7%inches inlength, 3% inches in width andi-having a thickness of 7 to 8mils. The exposed portion of the drum surface lying between the firstland second projections is established at 31/2 inches,approximately'h'alfthe length of a card. The stopping wall 30ispositionedl slightly less than a card length away fromprojections=321v sothat a' stopped card'such as 18a overhangs projection32 by approximately 1/8 inch. Projection 32 hasaY radius of '1/2 inchand protrudes 9/16 inch above thefdrurn surface.Y It is `important thatprojections 32 should-not protrude too' far beyond the drum surface,

sinceotherwise the'fchange of direction of an oncomingv cardy such as 22-`willbe excessive in view of the kinetic energy of the f moving card.

Referenceis-nov/ made toFigs. 4 and 5 showing another embodiment of theinvention. The distinguishing feature of this embodiment is that each ofthe first andl second projections is yfa separate-structure. Anothervariationis thatth'e embodiment of Figs. 4 and 5 includes only twoworking grooves14'4'and 451in the surface of 'the drum'. 15.l

Thus,aslillustra`ted in Fig. 5 th'efirstr projection is provided by apair of fingers 46 and 47, respectively ridingk within grooves 44 and45, and maintained'in position-by means' off aconnecting member 48. Themember 48 is in turni fastened to thesupporting table 38.

The4 second projection is provided by a pair of shortfingers/42Siandl43` connected to' the member 31 and riding Withingrooves44' and 45, respectively. Fingers 42 and 43'doridebeneaththesurface of the drum so as to de-` a` stationaryreceivinghopper iixedly positioned adjacent' to the druman'dincluding rst andsecond'memberseach having at least two'fingersfextending partiallyinto'associated ones of said-annular grooves, said first and'secondmembers respectively providing first and second projections protrudingfrom the surface of the drum, said second" projection beingjspaced'fromYsaid first projection` in the Vdirection of rotation of said drum bysubstantially less than a cardlength; and astoppingwall vassociated'with said receiving hopper and fixedly positioned beyond said secondprojection less than a card length in the direction of rotation of saiddrum from said first projection, whereby a stopped card has its leadingedge abutting against said stopping wall, its trailing edge overhangingsaid first projection, its fore and aft portions resting upon saidsecond and first projections, respectively, and its middle portionclamped by means of said partial vacuum in sliding contact with thesurface of said drum betwixt said first and second projections, therebyto cause a succeeding card being transported upon the surface of saiddrum when said drum is rotating to assume the position previouslyoccupied by said stopped card.

2. The system claimed in claim l wherein said means for creating apartial vacuum comprises a pair of annular slots in said drum,respectively located near the ends of the drum on the surface thereof.

3. The system claimed in claim 1 wherein said first and secondprojections are interconnected by a plurality of fingers, each of saidfingers riding within an associated one of said annular grooves, saidfirst projection being formed by first ends of said lingers protrudingabove the surface of said drum, said second projection being formed bysecond ends of said fingers protruding above the surface of said drum.

4. The system claimed in claim 1 which includes a supporting table forsupporting said drum, and wherein said first and second projections areseparate from each other and are individually fastened to saidsupporting table.

5, The system claimed in claim l wherein said rotatable drum has adiameter of inches, said partial vacuum creates a pressure differentialcorresponding to l0 inches of water, and said first projection has aradius of onehalf inch and protrudes three-sixteenths inch above thesurface of said drum.

6. A system for transporting and receiving flexible cards at a rapidrate, comprising in combination: a rotatable drum card conveyor havingan annular groove in the surface thereof; vacuum means coupled to theinner portion of said conveyor for maintaining a partial vacuum therein;a stationary receiving hopper iixedly positioned adjacent to the drumand including first and Second members each having a finger extendingpartially into said groove, said first and second members respectivelyproviding first and second projections protruding from the surface ofthe drum, said second projection being spaced from said first projectionin the direction of rotation of said conveyor by substantially less thana card length, whereby the leading edge of a card being transported uponsaid surface becomes separated therefrom upon reaching said projectionsin succession; means for feeding a succession of cards to said conveyor,said conveyor having portions of the surface thereof in communicationwith the inner portion thereof, thereby supplying a partial vacuum atsaid surface for clamping thereto the cards being transported thereon;said second member further including a stopping wall xedly positionedadjacent the surface of said conveyor, whereby a stopped card has itsleading edge abutting against said stopping Wall, its trailing edgeoverhanging said rst projection, and its mid-portion in sliding contactwith the exposed surface of said conveyor between said first and secondprojections, and whereby a succeeding card being transported upon thesurface of Said conveyor is operative to assume the position previouslyoccupied by said stopped card.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,014,819 Fenlason Jan. 16, 1912 1,838,200 Tomtlund Dec. 29, 1931FOREIGN PATENTS 589,136 Germany Feb. 20, 1935

